Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. B. THOMAS. GAR COUPLING.

Patented Dec. 24, m9.

EIIIIIIHHIIIH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BRYANT THOMAS, OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,089, dated December24, 1889.

' Application filed September 24, 1889. Serial No. 324,878. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BRYANT THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sulphur Springs, in the county of Hunt and State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Gar- Ooupling, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings; and it consistsin certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed. Theespecial object of my invention is to provide a single structure inwhich the airbrake pipes and steam-heatin g pipes will be coupledtogether when the cars are coupled, and in which the several parts willbe very compactly arranged.

A further object is to provide means whereby the cars may be uncoupledby the use of compressed air.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improvedcoupling, showing two draw-heads coupled together. Fig. 2 is a plan Viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view on a larger scale, showing thedraw-heads separated. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of thedraw-heads. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 6 is asimilar view of one draw-head uncoupled. Fig. 7 is a detail View of thepiston for re leasing the coupling-hook.

The draw-head A is secured on the bottom of the car at the end of thesame, and the main portion of the draw-head is cylindrical and providedwith an internal cylinder-head B, as shown. The cylinder fits over apiston C, secured on the bottom of the car, and the air contained withinthe cylindrical drawhead between the cylinder-head B and the piston willbe compressed when the drawheads are brought together, and consequentlyserve as a cushion to deaden the shock between the draw-heads in theoperation of coupling. The draw-head is pivoted within a bracket to onthe under side of the car, so that it may have a slight lateral motionto facilitate the operation of coupling. The piston is secured to thecar by a cup bin such a manner that it will be prevented from having anylongitudinal motion, but will be permitted to move from side to side, soas to accommodate itself to the position of the draw-heads.

A counterbalancing-weight d is attached to the rear portion of thedraw-head, so as to prevent the heavier front end of the same drawing itdownward out of a horizontal position. The forward extremity of thedrawhead is provided with a tapered tongue D, and this tongue isprovided with a transverse horizontal opening E, which is adapted toreceive a clevis to permit the device to be used in connection with theordinary pin-and-link coupling. The tongue is also provided on its innerside with the lateral shoulder F, and the shoulder of each draw-head isengaged by a coupling-hook pivoted on the opposite drawhead in theoperation of the device. The draw-head is further provided in rear ofthe shoulder F with an offset G, which is substantially triangular inform and is hollow, thereby providing the chamber H, which is adaptedtoreceive the tapered tongueof the opposite draw-head.

It will be readily understood, of course, that the tapered tongue andthe hollow offset are arranged on opposite sides of the medianlongitudinal lines of the draw-head, so that in the operation ofcoupling the tongue of each draw-head enters the projection of theopposite draw-head, and the two draw-heads are thus guided toward eachother, so as to insure a perfect coupling. On the upper side of thedraw-head, and in about the central line of the same, I form the lugs 1,between which I pivot the coupling-hook J, the said hook extendingforward from the said lug and curving downward therefrom, so that whenthe draw-heads are brought together the end of the hook will drop intoengagement with the shoulder F and rest upon the shelf K at the loweredge of the said shoulder. By this arrangement the strain applied to thecoupling-hooks will be exerted directly on the ends of the same and willnot be put on the pivot thereof, thereby reducing the strain 011 thepivot, and consequently increasing the durability of the device. Therear end of the coupling-hook is extended past the pivot, and is adaptedto be acted upon by the compressed air in the operation of coupling.

The lateral projection G is provided in its top and bottom with theregistering openings L, so as to permit the device to be used inconnection with the push-bar of a locomotive.

On the upper side of the draw-head I pro- Vide a small cylinder M, whichis arranged directly over the rear end of the couplinghook, and in thesaid cylinder I arrange a piston N. The compressed air is admitted tothe cylinder through a pipe 0, provided near the cylinder with astop-cock P, sothat the flow of compressed air may be regulated at will.From the pipe 0 a branch pipe Q leads downward around the side of thedrawhead and communicates with a pipe It, extending through thedraw-head and adapted to register with a similar pipe 011 the oppositedraw-head, so that the coupling-hooksof both draw-heads may besimultaneously disengaged. The piston N is provided with a dependingstem or piston-rod e, which projects through the lower end of thecylinder and bears on the inner or rear end of the coupling-hook.

The construction and operation of the pipe or pipesR are the same asthat of the air-brake pipes S and the steam-heating pipes T, and thisconstruction and operation I will nowprocee'd to describe, particularreference being had to Figs. 5 and (5.

In the front end of the draw-head and between the front end of thehollowlateral proj ection G and the shoulder F, I form a series of horizontaltransverse openings or chambers U, and the inlet-pipe, either S, T, orQ, enters the chamber U near the outer end of the same. The inner end ofthe chamber U is partially closed by a nut V, screwed thereinto, andthereby providing the shoulder WV. YVithin the chamber U,I mount thesliding tube or cylinder X, which is normally pressed outward by thefluid within the opening, and is provided with an annular shoulder Y,which is adapted to engage the shoulder W and thereby limit the outwardmovement of the said tube orcylinder. The tube or cylinder X is providednear its outer end with the diametrical openings or ports Z, throughwhich the fluid passes into the cylinder and then escapes into thecylinder of the opposite draw-head, and so passes on through the train.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of the devicebeing thus made known, the operation and advantages of the E ame will,it is thought, be readily understood.

When it is desired to couple two cars together, the cars are made toapproach, and the flow of compressed air through the pipe 0 is cut off,thereby allowing the coupling-hooks to fall. As the draw-heads cometogether the tongues D will enter the chambers I I, an d the draw-headsbe thereby moved laterally toward each other, so as to bring thecouplinghooks into engagement with the shoulders F and cause the pipesR, the steam-heating pipes, and the airbrake pipes to register. Thecoupling-hooks will automatically engage the shoulders F, and the carswill therebybe coupled together. In the normal position of the parts,when the cars are uncoupled, the pressure of the air or other fluidwithin the opening or chamber U, acting on the outer end of the cylinderor tube X, throws the said tube or cylinder outward, so that the portsor openings Z therein will be closed by the walls of the chamber U.\Vhen the draw-heads come together, however, the lateral mot-ion giventhereto by the tongues and the recesses H will bring the ends of thetubes or cylinders X against each other, thereby throwing the said tubesor'cylinders inward, so, as to allow the fluid to pass through the portsor openings Z into the cylinders, as will be readily understood. WVhenit is desired to uncouple the cars, the compressed airis again permittedto flow through the pipe ,0, and will throw the piston N downward,so asto depress the rear end of the coupling-hook, and thereby release thesame, as beforedescribed, and, the pressure being maintained on thepiston N, the coupling-hook will be held raised,so as to facilitate thecoupling of the cars. As the cars separate the tubes or cylinders X willbe thrown outward, inasmuch as the external pressure therein is greaterthan the internal pressure, and the flow of the fluid through the samewill be consequently automatically cut off.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings,

coupled, and the ad-vant-agesof the device are thought to .be obvious.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, anddesire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of the draw-head having the shoulders F, and theshelves K, and the coupling-hooks pivoted on the upper sides of thedraw-heads and adapted to engage the shoulders F and rest on the shelvesK, as set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head, of thecoupling-hook pivotally mounted thereon, a cylinder arranged ,on theupper side of the draw-head adjacent to the rear end of the couplinghook, and a piston in said cylinder acting on the rear end of thecoupling-hook, as set forth.

3. The improved car-coupling consisting of the draw-head, thecoupling-hook mounted pivotally thereon, the cylinder M, arranged on thedraw-head, the transverse pipes R within the draw-head, the pipe .0,leading into the cylinder M and provided with a stop-cock, and a branchpipe Q between the pipe 0 and the tube It, all arranged and operatingsubstantially as specified.

4E. The combination, with the draw-head having the transverse chamber U,of the inlet-pipe communicating therewith, and the tube or cylindermounted in said chamber, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the draw-head having the transverse chamber U,provided with an annular shoulder W, of the inletpipe communicating withthe said chamber, and the tube or cylinder arranged within said chamberand provided with ports or openings Z and the annular shoulder Y, as setforth.

6. The combination of the draw-heads provided at their front ends withtapered tongues and the hollow lateral projections adapted to receivesaid tongues, and the coupling-hooks pivotally mounted on the draw-headsand adapted to lock the same together, as set forth.

7. In a car-coupling, the draw-head provided with a series of transversetubes or cylinders, whereby, when the cars are coupled together, theheating-pipes and the air-brake JAMES BRYANT THOMAS.

Witnesses:

J. H. SIGGERS, R. J. MARSHALL.

